Are you Trying to Lose Weight for the Right Reasons? - Establish the Right Mindset Before you Begin with Weight Loss

Even though weight loss is definitely something that most of us have to do, we tend to go about it for the wrong reasons. And believe it or not, establishing the right mindset can make a huge difference in your success.

Earlier this quarter, I was greeted by a high school friend whom I haven't seen since 2011. Now I won't mention her real name, but for the sake of this story I'll call her Sally.

Sally is a pretty big person who has a lot of weight to lose. She told me how surprised she was at how much progress I've made since graduating high school, and wanted to know why she couldn't lose weight herself. She has been trying to lose weight for a very long time, and has tried everything from A to Z to get there, from fad diets to weight loss programs, but she has made zero progress.

My answer to her question was another question: "Well, why do you want to lose weight?"

Sally looked at me oddly, as if the answer was obvious, but she told me anyway: "'Cause I want to look thinner and be attractive to other guys, and also because everyone keeps telling me to lose weight."

Ding ding ding! I think we found her answer.

Why is Sally having such a hard time losing weight?

When we go about weight loss, we always forget that the foundation for all life-changing goals must be determined. Deciding to lose weight is a life-changing goal, just like deciding to move to a state you've never been to before, or deciding to invest in college classes to get a degree.

If you do not have a solid foundation, you're pretty much screwed from Day 1.

Losing weight isn't like getting a haircut or buying new clothes. Losing weight takes time, effort, willpower, and money. If you're not willing to put the time into making sure your foundation is in tact, then your whole plan is going to eventually collapse.

So what is the foundation that needs to be solidified?

Simply ask yourself: "Why do I want to lose weight?"

Go ahead. Get out a piece of paper and write down all the reasons you want to lose weight, and then proceed below. This may seem a little silly, but it's going to be worth it in the end.

Finished? Great!

A BAD Weight Loss Foundation vs. A GOOD Weight Loss Foundation

Here are reasons to lose weight that can guarantee your failure:

• "because I want to look attractive to others."
• "because everyone keeps telling me to lose weight."
• "because everyone says weight loss is good for you."

Notice the theme from the above reasons?

All of them have to do with the opinion or perception of others. They said this, he said that, they think this, they think that. You're trying to start your weight loss journey, but you're dependent on someone else to strike the match for you.

You are losing weight for other people, not for yourself.

On the other hand, good reasons are:

• "I want to feel attractive."
• "Because I want to have a positive image of myself."
• "Because I don't want to face diseases when I get old."

The above reasons, while seemingly the same as the aforementioned reasons, are actually a LOT more different in all the right ways. Why?

Because the reasons reflect what YOU WANT for yourself, not what other people want for you. YOU want to feel attractive, YOU want to have a positive image of ourself, YOU want to be healthier and not face diseases in the future. 

Think about it for a little. Would you want to move out of your hometown because someone told you to do it? Would you go to college because the man down the street says college is the way to success? Would you quit your boring job because your co-worker says it's the right thing to do? No!

So why should you lose weight when you really don't want to? When it comes to weight loss, it's all about you, and it's all that matters. 

And remember: If your heart isn't into it from day one, what makes you think your body will be?